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Sign Language Alphabet Translator
Type a name, word or short sentence to see how it is fingerspelled with the American Sign Language (ASL) manual alphabet. Play the signs one letter at a time to practise, and save them as a picture.
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American Sign Language (ASL) manual alphabet, shown as a right hand facing you. J and Z are drawn with their movement. Click a sign to view it large.
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How to use the Sign Language Alphabet Translator
- Type your text, for example your name. Accents are removed and punctuation is skipped.
- Look at the hand signs below. Each letter is one handshape; words are separated by a gap.
- Press Play letter by letter to practise. Change the speed or tick Loop for repetition.
- Adjust the size, skin tone or hand to suit you.
- Download PNG strip to save or print the signs.
How to form each ASL letter
| Letter | Handshape |
|---|---|
| A | Fist with the thumb resting against the side of the index finger |
| B | Flat hand, four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded across the palm |
| C | Fingers and thumb curved into the shape of a C |
| D | Index finger up; the other fingers curve to touch the thumb tip |
| E | Fingertips bent down to rest on the thumb, which is tucked across the palm |
| F | Index finger and thumb touch to make a circle; the other three fingers point up |
| G | Index finger and thumb point sideways, parallel to each other |
| H | Index and middle fingers point sideways together |
| I | Little finger up, the rest in a fist |
| J | I handshape, then draw a J in the air with the little finger |
| K | Index and middle fingers up in a V, thumb touching the middle finger |
| L | Index finger up and thumb out, forming an L |
| M | Thumb tucked under the index, middle and ring fingers |
| N | Thumb tucked under the index and middle fingers |
| O | All fingertips touch the thumb to form an O |
| P | K handshape pointing down |
| Q | G handshape pointing down |
| R | Index and middle fingers crossed |
| S | Fist with the thumb across the front of the fingers |
| T | Fist with the thumb tucked between the index and middle fingers |
| U | Index and middle fingers up and together |
| V | Index and middle fingers up and apart |
| W | Index, middle and ring fingers up and apart, thumb holding the little finger |
| X | Index finger bent like a hook |
| Y | Thumb and little finger out, the other fingers folded |
| Z | Index finger draws a Z in the air |
Fingerspelling tips
- Keep a steady position. Hold your dominant hand near your shoulder, palm facing the person you sign to, and don't bounce the hand on every letter.
- Aim for rhythm, not speed. A smooth, even pace is easier to read than fast spelling with pauses.
- Pause briefly between words instead of adding a space sign.
- Mouth the word as you spell it; many signers read lips and hands together.
- Learn real signs too. Common words such as hello, thank you and please have their own ASL signs and are rarely fingerspelled.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a full sign language translator?
No. It shows fingerspelling, which spells words letter by letter with the manual alphabet. Real ASL uses its own signs for most words and its own grammar, so a sentence is not signed by spelling every word. Fingerspelling is used for names, places, brand names and words without a common sign.
Which sign language alphabet is this?
The American Sign Language (ASL) one-handed manual alphabet, also used in Canada and parts of other countries. British, Australian and New Zealand Sign Language use a different two-handed alphabet, and many other countries have their own.
How are J and Z signed?
J and Z are the only ASL letters with movement. For J, make the I handshape (little finger up) and trace a J in the air by turning the wrist. For Z, point with the index finger and draw a Z in the air. The dotted arrows show these paths.
How do I fingerspell double letters?
For a double letter, as in the two Ls of hello, sign the letter once and then make a small bounce or slide of the hand to the side before signing it again. Keep your hand in one place for the other letters.
Which hand should I use?
Use your dominant hand. The pictures show a right hand facing the viewer, as you would see another person signing. If you are left-handed, tick Left hand to see the mirror image.
How can I get faster at reading fingerspelling?
Read the shape of the whole word rather than each letter, practise with names and common words, and use the Fast speed with Loop on. Hold your hand at shoulder height with the palm facing out when you sign yourself.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.
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